Keycode page switching apparatus and method for the same

ABSTRACT

A keyboard with keycode page switching ability has at least one page switch key. The page switch key is operated to select one keycode page for the keyboard. A driver program of a computer connected to the keyboard will send a switching command to switch a keycode page for the keyboard after the page switch key is pressed. Therefore, user can select keycode page for the keyboard to expand the function of the keyboard.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a keycode page switching apparatus and method for the same, especially to a keycode page switching apparatus providing at least one page switch key on a keyboard to select a keycode page for the keyboard and method for the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Keyboards are indispensable computer hardware for data and command input. Moreover, as the function of the computer becomes more diverse and powerful, the keyboard is provided extra function keys or hot keys for multimedia functions such as play, forward, rewind, volume up, volume down, e-mail and Internet . . . etc.

[0003] The above-mentioned functions are generally achieved by adding a prefix “E0” to the standard keycode of the keyboard to extend the function of the keyboard. However, this kind of keyboard uses exclusively the PS/2 interface.

[0004] Moreover, USB (Universal Serial Bus) is also a popular serial interface for keyboard and mouse with hot plug feature. Therefore, user can conveniently change peripherals with USB interface.

[0005] However, the keyboard with USB interface has limitation on certain function because of the definition of USB specification. For example, hot keys of some keyboards have two keycode pages selected by driver program, but the USB keyboard cannot select one keycode page from the two keycode pages. Therefore, the USB keyboard cannot be switched to vender defined page once the driver program is activated.

[0006] As can be seen from above description, the USB keyboard lacks of some function provided by the PS/2 keyboard, which is inconvenient to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a keycode page switching apparatus and method, wherein the keycode of the keyboard can be switched by directly operating the keyboard with the help of driver program for expanding the function.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a keycode page switching apparatus and method, whereby the keys on the keyboard have two keycode pages or multiple keycode pages.

[0009] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a method for keycode page switching, wherein a keyboard has at least one keycode page switching key and electrically connected to a computer. The method comprises following steps: (a) pressing the page switch key; (b) a driver program of the computer sending a page switch command to the keyboard; and (c) the keyboard executing the page switch command. To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a keyboard with keycode page switching function. A keyboard with keycode page switching ability is connected to a computer and has at least one page switch key. The keyboard has a keycode corresponding to a keycode page. The page switch key is pressed such that the computer can selectively switch a keycode page and the function of the keyboard can be expanded with the help of a driver program.

[0010] The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 shows the block diagram of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 shows a keyboard according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 shows the flowchart of the present invention; and

[0014]FIG. 4 shows the flowchart of the invention for demonstrating the keycode sending by keyboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the keyboard 1 according to the present invention is connected to an I/O interface 21 of a computer 2 operated on an operation system 3. The keyboard 1 is a USB keyboard and has at least one page switch key 11 to switch among user pages defined by USB interface. The current user page of the keyboard 1 is referred to keycode page. More particularly, the page switch key 11 can switch the keycode page of the USB keyboard from 07 page for normal key or 0C page for hot key to one of the vender defined pages ff00-ffff, which are also defined by USB interface. The operation system 3 has USB supporting function and, for example, can be one of the Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, Mac Os and Linux. When the keyboard 1 according to the present invention is connected to the computer 2, the computer recognizes the page switching ability of the keyboard 1. Therefore, user can use the page switch key 11 to switch the keycode page of the USB keyboard with the help of the driver program.

[0016]FIG. 3 shows the flowchart of the present invention, which comprises following steps:

[0017] step 41: judging whether the page switch key is pressed? if true, going to step 42, else ending the procedure;

[0018] step 42: the driver program of the computer sending a page switch command;

[0019] step 43: the keyboard receiving the command and executing the command.

[0020] In step 41, the computer 2 receives a request to switch keycode page when the page switch key 11 is pressed. The driver program of the computer sends a page switch command to the keyboard 1 in step 42 and the report ID is modified in step 43, wherein the report ID is used for the computer 2 for identify the keycode page of the keyboard 1.

[0021]FIG. 4 shows the flowchart of the invention for demonstrating the keycode sending by keyboard.

[0022] step 51: sensing whether a key is pressed? if true, going to step 52, else ending the procedure;

[0023] step 52: the keyboard sending a keycode and a report ID corresponding to the pressed key, and then ending the procedure.

[0024] The step 51 senses the keystroke of keys beside the page switch key 11. Once a keystroke is sensed, the keycode and the report ID corresponding to the key are sent to keyboard buffer and the driver program of the computer 2 can discriminate the keycode page corresponding to the pressed key. Therefore, the function of the key corresponding to the keycode page can be executed by the keystroke.

[0025] More particularly, the keys on the keyboard have functions corresponding to 07 page for normal key or 0C page for once the driver program of the computer is activated. If a user want to use expanded function of the key, he can switch the keycode page of the keyboard from 07 page for normal key (or 0C page for hot key) to one of the vender defined pages ff00-ffff and then the driver program converts the keycode corresponding to the selected page of the vender defined pages ff00-ffff to composite keycode accessible by operation system or application program. Alternatively, the driver program of the computer can convert the keycode in page of the vender defined pages ff00-ffff to Alt+numeric codes to generate special symbols. Therefore, the keyboard can be operated with standard function of USB keyboard provided by 07 page or 0C page, or with expanded function defined by USB interface in one of vender defined page ff00˜ffff.

[0026] To sum up, the keycode page switching apparatus and method of the present invention have following advantages:

[0027] 1. User can switch the keycode of the keyboard to other page by the page switch key.

[0028] 2. The keycode page can be switched to one of the vender defined pages ff00-ffff to expand the function of the keyboard with the help of driver program.

[0029] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the keycode can be switched to other usage pages beside vender defined page ff00˜ffff. Alternatively, multiple keycode switching keys can be provided and corresponding to different keycode pages. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A keycode page switching method for a keyboard connected to a computer and having at least one page switch key, the keycode page switching method comprising following steps: (a) pressing the page switch key; (b) a driver program of the computer sending a page switch command to the keyboard; and (c) the keyboard executing the page switch command.
 2. The keycode page switching method as in claim 1, wherein the keyboard is compatible with USB interface.
 3. The keycode page switching method as in claim 2, further comprising a step before the step (a): the keyboard informing the computer with its page switching ability thereof.
 4. The keycode page switching method as in claim 1, wherein the pressed page switch key sends a requesting for page switching to the computer in the step (a).
 5. The keycode page switching method as in claim 4, wherein in the step (b) the driver program for detecting a pressing stroke of the page switch key sends the page switch command to the keyboard after it receives the requesting for page switching.
 6. The keycode page switching method as in claim 1, wherein the computer is operated with an operation system in the step (b).
 7. The keycode page switching method as in claim 6, wherein the operation system can support USB interface.
 8. The keycode page switching method as in claim 1, wherein the keyboard executes the page switch command by modifying a report ID in step the (c).
 9. The keycode page switching method as in claim 8, wherein the report ID is used by the computer for identify a keycode page corresponding to the keyboard.
 10. The keycode page switching method as in claim 9, wherein the keycode page is one of the of USB vender defined page ff00˜ffff switched from 07 page defined by USB specification.
 11. The keycode page switching method as in claim 9, wherein the keycode page is one of the of USB vender defined page ff00˜ffff switched from 0C page defined by USB specification.
 12. A system with keycode page switching ability, comprising: a keyboard having at least one page switch key; an operation system; and a computer having an I/O interface connected to the keyboard and operated with the operation system.
 13. The system with keycode page switching ability as in claim 12, wherein the keyboard is compatible with USB specification.
 14. The system with keycode page switching ability as in claim 12, wherein the page switch key is used to switch among a plurality of keycode pages defined by USB specification.
 15. The system with keycode page switching ability as in claim 12, wherein the operation system supports USB specification.
 16. The system with keycode page switching ability as in claim 12, wherein the I/O interface is a USB interface.
 17. A keyboard with keycode page switching ability, the keyboard connected to a computer and having at least one page switch key, the computer being capable of selectively switching a keycode page after the page switch key being pressed such that the function of the keyboard is expanded with the help of a driver program.
 18. The keyboard with keycode page switching ability as in claim 17, wherein the keyboard is compatible with USB specification.
 19. The keyboard with keycode page switching ability as in claim 17, wherein the driver program is operated on the computer.
 20. The keyboard with keycode page switching ability as in claim 17, wherein the computer is operated with an operation system.
 21. The keyboard with keycode page switching ability as in claim 20, wherein the operation system supports USB specification. 